What role do human ears play?
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What is the function of human ears?
The human ear has two important functions: one is the hearing function, and the other is the balancing function. The human ear is divided into three parts: the outer ear, the middle ear, and the inner ear. The main functions of the outer ear are to collect sound, orient the sound source, transmit sound in an S-shape, protect the eardrum, buffer sound, modulate frequency, and expand sound energy. The main function of the middle ear is to convert energy, amplify sound, and transmit sound. The main functions of the inner ear are sound transmission, sound sensing and balance.
The human ear is composed of the outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear. The external ear includes the auricle and the external auditory canal. The function of the auricle and external auditory canal is to collect sound waves. The middle ear includes the tympanic membrane, tympanic cavity, Eustachian tube, etc. It has the functions of supercharging, energy conversion and protection.
The Eustachian tube is the passage between the middle ear and the nasopharynx. The pressure between the middle ear and the outside air can be balanced through the Eustachian tube. In addition, the Eustachian tube also has a drainage function, draining secretions from the tympanic cavity. The Eustachian tube near the nasopharynx can be narrowed or enlarged. It is usually closed and opens when swallowing or nasal discharge. This is why nasopharyngeal diseases can cause otitis media.
The size of the ear has an impact on the strength of hearing
Ricketts said that the shape of the ear has a great impact on how to hear external sounds, because Due to the unique shape of our human ears, we are accustomed to the way sound passes through the eardrum and then gradually to the brain. Although some animals have spiral ears, many scientists believe that humans, as the top occupiers of the food chain, do not need ears with such top-down sensitive hearing because we cannot be attacked from above or killed by a bird. Take it away.
The outer edge of the ear, called the pinna, is used primarily to collect sound. Ricketts calls it a bit like a trumpet. However, this speaker is pointed slightly forward so that the ears pick up more sound coming from the opposite side rather than behind. Sounds coming from behind are somewhat like shadows, he said, and because of the shape of the human ear, they don't travel that well into our ears.
Alfred Newman (the typical cover character of the American humor magazine MAD) is iconicThe large auricles can help block noisy sounds behind a person, allowing him to better hear the voices of the person on the other side. As for those whose ears lie flat, it is conceivable that they can better capture the sounds coming from behind. People with such ears can claim that their ears have an advantage in hearing their surroundings, Ricketts said. However, no matter what shape your ears are, if you want to hear more clearly when talking to people in person, just cup your auricles with your hands to focus more on the oncoming sounds.
The shape of our ears can also affect the sounds we hear
The distance between our two ears can help people locate the location of sound sources. Those bumps or grooves that most of us have on our ears can change the frequency of sounds and help us better locate their source. Ricketts said that whether your ear is completely curled or has convex and concave shapes, the sounds that each of us actually hear are different from the sounds that others hear.
He said that the shape of the earlobes, whether attached or pendulous, is genetically determined and has not been shown to affect hearing ability. However, the earlobes are rich in nerves, which is why the ears are a sensitive area for many people. Ricketts said scientists believe earlobes have no actual biological function.